//------------------------------// // 4. Layers Beneath Layers // Story: Sweetie Belle - Hogwarts Exchange Student // by Georg //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle - Hogwarts Exchange Student Layers Beneath Layers The first thought that went through Theodore Nott’s head was, of course, ‘Unicorn!’ The second thought was to instinctively look around to see where the woman went. She should have been easy to spot, clad in long flowing silks in the same colors that flowed down from the unicorn’s long aristocratic neck. It took several blinks before some small voice in the back of his mind realized that the room was empty except for the mirror and himself, so therefore the tall unicorn and the tall woman were… “Celestia?” he hazarded while catching his breath. The astonishing creature was absolutely no unicorn that Hogwarts had ever presented during class, although Hagrid would have been overjoyed to see this one, and most probably would have turned cartwheels at the sight. The situation was slightly more complicated by the long white wings the unicorn carried across her flanks, as well as the golden sunburst tattoo on her flank peeking out from under her wingtips. There was an echo of guarded power around Celestia, the tiniest fringe of a vast reservoir of magic and strength that could crack the world if she wished, or use to gently boost a butterfly on its way into the sky. There could be no comparison between her and any other wizard Theodore had ever seen… except perhaps the same way Dumbledore had maintained a semblance of a doddering old fool while concealing enough power to fight and drive away the Dark Lord himself. If this was all a front to conceal her real power, Theodore had to wonder just what kind of terrible might was concealed behind this mortal shell. There was no sign of any concealed power in those soft violet eyes now, only an anticipatory expression, watching him as if expecting some sort of change and being vaguely disappointed as a result. If anything, that subdued smile and those dangerous eyes were more powerful with the size and grace of her equine body, making Theodore feel quite small in comparison. The huge room around them was not helping. Wizarding architecture tended toward stone or rubbed and polished wood with narrow corridors and braced archways in the larger rooms. Stone was indeed a large quantity of the room’s building material, in a vast multitude of colors and translucency with sparkles and glints of what could only be precious gems or some facsimile thereof. Wizards did not make brilliant colorful rooms like this, most probably because their natural taste in dark clothing would make them feel too much like cockroaches scurrying around underfoot. He must have been gawking for a while before Celestia’s soft voice interrupted his fascinated study of the beautiful room, which was glittering and sparkling all around him like a decorator had gone simply insane with the stuff. “I am so glad you are not troubled by our portal, Mister Nott. Would you like to get settled in before meeting your instructor, and perhaps change into something a little more comfortable?” Theodore shook away his musings and looked Celestia up and down, trying to get a handle on where he should go from here. After all, a divine force of power in this world should not ask his opinion. “Oh!” exclaimed Celestia with a twinkle in her eyes. “Please forgive an old alicorn her occasional attempts at exploring the unseen depths of others. It’s always such a joy to discover gifts that one could not imagine in ordinary circumstances, and I would hope that you are not displeased enough with my antics to consider returning to your home.” “Far from it, Ma’am,” answered Theodore, although his eyes were naturally drawn to the thin golden tiara that crested the winged unicorn’s head, the golden torc around her neck, and the likewise golden hoof-boots on her hooves. They did not seem to be ordinary wear for any kind of equine, and Celestia caught his searching glances without a pause. “I apologize for not telling you the whole story before, Mister Nott. I’m retired, but once I was a Princess of the land of Equestria, and as you may have noticed, I am an alicorn. I really did not feel it wise to brandish my former title around in your world more than necessary.” “Or your form,” he could not help but add. “Oh, yes.” Celestia giggled with a musical voice that sounded like golden bells. “Godrick was forever trying to get hairs from my sister’s tail. Said it would make a dueling wand beyond anything wizardkind had ever seen before. It also most probably would have blown his arm off,” she added with less of a smile. “It was far safer, at least in that respect, to keep a more human form during our travels to your world.” The concept was more than slightly boggling, but it was abstract knowledge that would wait for the moment. There were more important things in the short-term, and the proper, polite way to ask about them. After all, Snape had once told him that a pinch of tact would get him far more than a gallon of bile, and this was an excellent time to put that lesson in manners to the test. “May we talk while walking, Ma’am? I would like to get my things put away as quickly as possible. Several of them are time-sensitive.” “Oh, yes.” Celestia began to walk across the room with Theodore at her side. He tried to match his steps to her slow, deliberate motions only to give up and just walk normally after a few paces. Their resulting speed was slower than he expected, and still quickly enough that he dared not tarry. With his luggage trolley trailing behind, the two of them headed for a broad portal in the room, a wide crystal door that hinted strongly at more crystal on the other side. Since there could scarcely be more crystal here without a larger chandelier or thicker floors, it seemed a fair guess that the mirror at this end of the portal was indeed in the ‘Crystal Empire’ she had referenced, particularly since this was where he was supposed to spend the next year anyway. Still, a few points needed clarification while they walked. “So, in the event that I need to return—” Celestia smoothly interrupted. “The mirror on the other side of the dimension will be deactivated and under the control of your Ministry of Magic. In the event we need to use it, I will send word by way of Philomena my phoenix to have it removed from storage and activated. Your Mister Shacklebolt seemed quite insistent on maintaining control over any traffic back and forth through the mirror. Are you having second thoughts?” “No,” said Theodore immediately. In truth, he was having a few qualms about his upcoming educational experience, one of which was… “Are there any other humans in this world, Professor… that is Princess Celestia?” “I’m afraid not, Mister Nott.” The calm demeanor of the graceful alicorn was interrupted by a very non-royal snort of amusement. “Beg pardon, sir.” Theodore waved it off, then hesitated. “How are we speaking the same language? There are spells to accomplish that, but I don’t remember seeing any of them cast.” He produced his wand with a brief flick of the wrist and made a quick pass, only to remain speechless at what it revealed to his sight. There was not just one spell on him, but at least four, from a deceptively simple language spell to a pair of disillusionment charms which made his odd-to-this-dimension appearance more acceptable to whatever passed for a magicless muggle here. Complicating the matter was a fair blizzard of other spells all around him, nearly as many as graced the hallways of Hogwarts, and all completely different than he was expecting. “Starswirl’s First Accommodation Spell,” said Celestia in response to his unasked question. “Handy for the dimensional traveler, and when combined with his Second Immutable Portal Determinator, prevents said traveler from opening a portal to an environment which would be inhospitable or hazardous. I believe there are even some spells of his embedded in the foundations of your school.” Celestia stifled a brief snort. “Rowena kept trying to scratch him behind the ears. He claimed it was ‘beneath his dignity’ but he never complained to her.” The tall alicorn continued to talk about the events of a thousand years ago as if it were yesterday while they walked through the crystal corridors and halls of this strange place. To be honest, most of her words simply flowed past Theodore without soaking in very deep, because he was fascinated by their surroundings. On their short walk, they met no end of sparkling ponies, almost all of them without horns or wings like their princess, and every single one of them treated their brief encounter with a respectful bow of the head. The trip was more than a little disconcerting, making Theodore constantly feel as if he were in some sort of crystalline china shop. It was also difficult to resist petting the residents, even though these creatures were as intelligent and polite as humans. He had to constantly remind himself that if the tables were turned and some tall creatures visited Hogwarts, he himself most likely would not have appreciated being patted on the head and scratched behind the ears either. Well, not more than once, for certain. “I just wanted to apologize again, Mister Nott.” Celestia paused in front of a large set of double doors with her horn glowing slightly, which Theodore had learned was an indication of her using one sort of spell or another. “I’m afraid I’ve grown far too fond of drama over the years, but if you will excuse me just one more tiny gesture.” She moved forward and the doors opened before them, revealing an entire city made of crystal and light glittering in the brilliant sunshine. It was so stunning that Theodore could not breathe, and his watering eyes darted from one faceted building in the distance to another impossible structure on all sides of the balcony until he had to blink and look back at Celestia, who seemed quite pleased with herself. “Welcome to the Crystal Empire, Mister Nott.” - - Ω - - The first thing Sweetie Belle wanted to do once they left the stodgy old wizards and witches of the Wizengamot was to explore all the fun places that Twilight Sparkle had told her about the human world. The immediate problem with that plan became obvious as she chattered away with Professor McGonagall. This was a completely different world, different than anyplace she had visited with her sister, and far different than the one dimension Twilight Sparkle had told her about. Professor McGonagall did not know anything about any malls, or gallerias, or dance clubs, or nail salons, or anything! Instead, there was a dark carriage waiting for them, a clever device called an automobile without anypony to pull it. The somber-faced skinny wizard controlling it did not speak, but made the vehicle fairly leap out into a street filled with similar automobiles, swerving and darting through gaps in the traffic far smaller than it should have fit, and blurring along at a pace that Scootaloo would have found quite thrilling. “I must say, I didn’t expect a young lady with such special talents,” said Professor Mcgonagall once the automobile had gotten a fair distance into their trip. “First and foremost, we need to get you registered as an animagus, or the Wizengamot will have you back in front of them by the end of the week as an underaged witch using an unlicenced transformation.” “Are there many animagisuses?” asked Sweetie, who was fairly pasted to the window of the automobile in order to see everything that was blurring past. “More than many realize. A wizard who has that particular link to a creature tends not to wave it around, particularly if the creature is… odd, such as a skunk or hedgehog.” Professor McGonagall slid partway across the bench seat when the automobile made a sharp right turn, but managed to hold onto her pointed black hat, even during the several sharp turns that followed. “It’s also dangerous,” she managed to say during another set of serpentine curves, ending as the automobile streaked ahead with the surroundings turning into a dim blur “Mister Shunpike,” McGonagall called out once she calmed down. “Do you think you can avoid trying to give some poor Muggle a heart attack. I’d like to get to my niece’s boarding house intact.” “Sorry, Ma’am,” called back the driver, who paused to scratch his nose and look down at an unfolded map while the town whizzed past outside. “I’m not quite comfortable with the steering yet. It’s not like the bus.” Mcgonagall closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, then turned back to Sweetie Belle. “Anyway, you’ve placed me into quite a pickle, young lady. Most students at Hogwarts are either from Muggle parents and having to learn all about the wizarding world for the first time, or from wizard parents and having to adjust to the Muggle concepts their fellow classmates bring with them. You’re both.” “I’m a very good student, Professor McGonagall. Twilight Sparkle says I learn like a kitchen on fire, and I’ll study really, really hard.” “Why does that sound vaguely ominous?” mused the professor out loud. - - Ω - - Their destination turned out to be an ordinary appearing house, with an ordinary appearing woman standing outside, who greeted Professor McGonagall with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “And this must be your new student. She’s adorable, Aunt Minerva,” she said in a near squeal of joy, bending over to look Sweetie Belle in the eyes. “I’m Donna Selkirk, Minerva’s great-niece on her father’s side. We’ve got an upstairs room set aside until it’s time for you to go to Hogwarts. Where are you from?” “That is a question which fairly demands a cup of tea,” said McGonagall. “Come along into the house. Stan, you may take the car back to the Ministry. We shall not be needing it any more this day.” Sweetie let herself be swept ahead of the two women on stumbling, clumsy feet, nearly tripping Miss Selkirk when the doorsill turned out to be a little taller than she expected, and dropping into the offered chair at the kitchen table with a relieved sigh while Miss Selkirk busied herself with the teakettle and cups. “Good gracious, child. I didn’t think the ride from the Ministry of Magic was that rough. Did they have another new driver?” Sweetie Belle slipped one foot out of her odd shoe and wriggled her sock-clad toes. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’m not quite used to walking on two feet yet.” The woman hesitated for a moment and cast a rapid but curious glance at the older witch, who was making the teacups and sugar bowl waddle to their respective positions on the table with short, precise flicks of her wooden stick. “The explanation will wait until tea,” said Professor McGonagall, adding, “Thank you, Donna,” when Miss Selkirk moved the kettle over to the table and began to pour. “Will I be getting one of those… they’re called wands, aren’t they?” asked Sweetie Belle while the tea things were being distributed. “Because the Wizengamot was talking about the Code of Wand Use and I noticed whenever you do magic, you have your wand out or one hand on it, but I’ve never needed to use a wand since I’m a unicorn and—” “You’re a unicorn?” asked Miss Selkirk while leaning forward in obvious expectation of following that question with several more, only to slowly lean back in her chair when Professor McGonagall gave her a sharp look. “I assure you, Donna, that the identity of our new student came as a complete surprise to everyone at the Wizengamot, including Balthasar Bulstrode. I think he was about to swallow his tongue,” she added, turning to Sweetie. “In all fairness, the fact that the letters we exchanged with your previous teacher all referred to the land of Equestria should have given us a clue. Nevertheless, I’m certain you will make an excellent student this year. Err…” Professor McGonagall took a sip of tea while obviously considering how to phrase a question, but Sweetie Belle spoke up first. “So this world is full of human beings but no ponies, while my world is full of ponies, but no humans. Do you have flying humans to bring the weather and farming ponies… I mean humans to grow all the food?” Professor McGonagall thought for a moment, then used her wand to lift an entire package of colorful cookies out of the kitchen cabinet and put them down in the middle of the table. “This sounds like it may take a while. Go ahead, Sweetie Belle. Tell us about your world first.” Back when Twilight Sparkle had been in the middle of one of their lessons, she had told Sweetie Belle that ponies were mostly unaware of their environment in much the same way as fish were unaware they were in water. Twilight had said whenever her friends were called upon to travel outside of the pony lands, it had always made her appreciate coming home even more, like a breath of fresh air. The idea had not made much sense to Sweetie at the time, because the furthest she had been from Ponyville were some of the pony towns in Equestria. Now while she talked to the two attentive human women, Sweetie finally understood what Twilight was trying to say. As advanced as the humans were here, they were also primitive in many respects. They did not have pegasi to bring the rain, or a Princess to raise the sun every morning, or even earth ponies to grow the food. All they had was humans, and what was worse, a great number of the humans had no idea magic even existed. Here, the worlds of the magic and the magic-less were kept apart by walls of secrecy because of the danger that the Muggle world, which was what they called humans who could not use magic, could inflict on the much smaller magical communities. It reminded Sweetie of the story the Windigos, and how the three tribes of ponykind had united in friendship to drive their eternal winter away, only in the inverse, because on Earth, the unicorns would have hidden their horns and blended in by pretending to be earth ponies. Still, the human’s system of keeping the two worlds apart had worked for well over a thousand years, so there must have been something to it. Or at least until recently. There had been a human wizard called Voldemort who killed many people, both wizards and muggles alike. All of the wizarding world had been terrified, unable to trust one another, and neither of the two women was willing to admit much more than that even after assuring Sweetie that Voldemort was dead, most certainly, and never to return. The cost was reflected in both of their faces, memories of loss that even hugs from Sweetie did not eliminate, although Professor McGonagall did have a long-delayed cry and Miss Selkirk provided a long series of tissues for the both of them. They were good tears, and gave Sweetie Belle a sense of completeness in this alien world. Her talent was related to music, and after all, song was merely unleashed emotions set to music, and the threat of Voldemort was a fading echo that only survived in memories. A persistent memory, it seemed. Sweetie had met ponies who had suffered loss, including her friend Apple Bloom who had lost her own parents so long ago that she barely remembered them. It helped to talk about the loss, but whenever she tried today, the walls went up and both women changed the topic. Even Professor McGonagall slipped away when Miss Selkirk turned the conversation to the Muggle world and their strange rules, but she promised to return this evening. Deciding that exploring the subject of Voldemort could wait until later, Sweetie Belle let herself be swept away by just why a plate full of cookies were called biscuits or why all of the witches and wizards seemed unable to abide a color scheme other than black. Other than the fashions, Sweetie Belle’s sister Rarity would have loved it here because people wore clothes everywhere, even to bed. It was understandable, because without a pony’s coat of short hairs, every little breeze gave her little chills. When she mentioned it, Miss Selkirk took her upstairs to an unused bedroom that was quite dusty, and which Sweetie could not help but think had once belonged to a child taken away by the evil wizard many years ago. The room had been put to other purposes since then, with all of the child’s belongings boxed up and the closet filled with extra clothes other boarders had left behind. Then again, after sorting through the clothes and finding some that were not too strange and fit reasonably well, perhaps it was best that Rarity was kept an entire dimensional barrier away from here, because she would have gone through at least three fainting spells during their closet excavation. Since none of the second-hoof stockings were paired, Sweetie wound up with one warm plaid sock with toes and one striped sock that came all the way up her leg. Although one was tinted in garish shades of violet and the other orange, a loose black dress covered them neatly, from hips to ankles. Miss Selkirk helped her cut the tops out of several mis-matched socks to use as arm warmers, and they both considered various hats before giving it up as a lost cause. Sweetie Belle’s hair liked being poomphed up in front, and resisted any attempts at being braided, tied, or woven to control it. They even considered a knit cap made out of wool, but since the outside was still what Miss Selkirk called summer weather, they decided to just have her go bare-headed for the time being, and go shopping for proper winter clothing later. “So, Auntie Minerva said you’ve got a scholarship to cover school supplies and such, but do you have a clothing allowance for out of school? If not, I think we can just go shopping anyway. The household budget can cover some expenses.” Miss Selkirk tousled Sweetie’s multi-coloured mane and giggled. “You are just so cute.” “My sister sent some gems with me for expenses,” explained Sweetie while reaching for her knapsack that Professor McGonagall had transformed. “I hope it’s enough.” She dumped the contents over the bed’s dusty cover and gave a brief squeak of surprise at the flashing book in the middle of the scattered gemstones. “Oh no! I was supposed to write right back to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo when I got here! Do you have a quill and some ink?” Donna Selkirk did not take her eyes off the pile of gems, but just reached into her blouse and removed a pen, handing it over while a small muscle under one eye began to twitch. “Some gems?” she managed to say. Miss Selkirk ran her fingers through the collection, separating the rubies and emeralds by color away from several large sapphires the size of her thumb. “That’s… um… Yes, this should cover your expenses. Were you planning on purchasing any small countries during your visit?” “No, just clothes and stuff,” said Sweetie around the pen. It was easier to hold than a quill, because the feathery frills didn’t tickle the inside of her mouth, and the ink flowed out like magic without needing to be dunked or anything. She wrote until she had a good summary of her experiences to this point, then closed the book and regarded the damp pen. “These are neat! I should buy a bunch of them, since school always involves a lot of writing. Are they expensive?” Miss Selkirk did not seem to hear the question. She had finished sorting the gemstones and was just holding onto one of the plum-sized diamonds between her thumb and forefinger, examining it in the bright lights of the room and watching the sparkles.